Gyms with “no grunting” policies irritate me. I grant you some people become annoying when they’re screaming all 12 reps of their 20 pound bicep curls, but if you’re going to actually exert yourself while exercising—and I admit it doesn’t happen that much at the average gym—some noise will be made. Weights might clang down, people might grunt, or even yell. I’m sorry if that distracts you from your reading of Muscle and Fitness as you walk.
“Some people grunt to give others the impression that [the grunters] are doing a lot of work. It’s just like flexing and strutting, trying to attract attention,” she told the Orange County Register. “The other reason is a more physical one — they’re not breathing properly. In order to grunt, they have to hold their breath and exhale forcefully.”
And what is the proper procedure in lifting weights? I do believe you hold your breath the first half of the movement and then exhale forcefully the second half.
Not So Fast 